Chef Hats and Chef Whites: Where Did They Come From?

Professional chefs still wear the tall, starched white hat as part of their uniform. Known as a toque, pronounced 'tock', the hat stops hair falling in the food and keeps sweat from the face. The height is to allow air to circulate and keep the head cool. Considered the pride of some kitchens and a pompous addition by others, where did they originate from?

Stroke a cook's ego to survive!

Historically a cook has held great power over their master by threat of poisoning their food. Wealthy men lived in paranoia and sought to empower their valued chef's by pandering to their ego with a look-a-like crown hat. This seemingly simple gesture elevated the cook to his masters level and prevented certain death through respect. Apparently.

Cooks were learned men in danger of their lives

In 7th century Greece cooks were learned men by means of having to read and record recipes. To be learned in ancient times was to have potential power and left them open to persecution by fear of the ignorant. The cooks sought refuge in monasteries and adopted the monk's black ropes and caps to blend in. This in time evolved into a white version. So not to offend God, of course.
The same story is repeated during the 17 century Baroque period, when you could almost be burnt at the stake for wearing your hair in the wrong fashion. Cooks were considered artisans possessing food alchemy skills; and therefore considered aligned with witchcraft. A natural association. The cooks took asylum in the Catholic cathedrals and adopted tall, white hats to mingle with the clergy. Again, holy men wore light grey - cooks wore white. No confusion with God.

Burn the soup and lose your head

Another infamous tale is that of the unfortunate cook of Henry VIII. The said chef apparently shed a hair in the gluttonous King's meal and was swiftly beheaded. A law ruling chefs wore hats was quickly voted in and the next nervous cook to step up gratefully accepted.

The original celebrity chef

In 19 Century France cooks became chefs and were held in great reverence. The toque blanche (white hat) evolved from french cooks' stocking caps; its earliest adoption being attributed to Marie Antoine Careme and Auguste Escoffier. Both being the original celebrity chefs of their day.

Big ego, Big chef hat

Carême's kitchen had different hats for each station denoting hierarchy, the height corresponding to rank. The ultimate echelon of Chef de Partie or Head Chef donned a magnificent, towering, starched affair with the number of pleats relating to how many ways you could cook an egg. Carême wore an impressive 18 inches with 100 pleats.

Professional chef whites and uniforms

Carême also standardised uniforms, introduced the double-breasted jacket and promoted cleanliness and pride. Escoffier trod in Carême's footsteps by insisting on the departure of smoking, drinking and swearing in the kitchen. He also endorsed education and the attire of jackets and ties off duty, encouraging professionalism from his brigade.

Of course we still see many influences of Carême and Escoffier in kitchens today with an abstinence of swearing, smoking and professional behaviour off duty. Ahem. (Obviously excluding the kitchen of Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre white.)

If you fancy yourself as a celebrity chef in the making York Catering Supplies have everything you need including Chef whites and clothing to look the part.

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